Tupou's historic double powers Wallabies to 56-17 rout of Japan in Townsville

Taniela Tupou scored a first-half double as Australia dismantled Japan 56-17 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on Saturday, capping a remarkable week for the Wallabies’ front row and rewriting a piece of Test rugby history.

The 72-cap tighthead had not scored in consecutive matches since April 2021, when he was still playing Super Rugby with the Queensland Reds. His brace, combined with tries from loosehead Angus Bell and hooker Josh Nasser, meant all three Wallabies starting props and hookers scored in the same Test — only the second time that has ever happened in Australian rugby history.

Nasser had opened the scoring in the sixth minute, burrowing over to set the tone, before Tupou powered over twice before the break. Debutant loosehead Massimo De Lutiis and replacement hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa also crossed, with former All Black-turned-Wallaby Aidan Ross the sole front-rower not to add his name to the scoresheet.

“We need some love, man. We don’t get love at all,” Tupou said post-match, reacting with amusement after being informed that New Zealand’s NPC had coincidentally been marking ‘Front Row Round’ the same weekend — a celebration of the hookers and props who have shaped provincial rugby over 50 years.

The result followed Australia’s 35-32 win over the same opponents in Osaka a week earlier, in which Tupou also scored, making this the first time he had touched down in back-to-back Tests since his Reds days.

Tupou’s resurgence comes off the back of a productive first season in France with Racing 92, where he scored two doubles in the Top 14 — including a memorable debut against Montauban on December 27. The move abroad, his first experience of overseas club rugby after spells with the Reds, Melbourne Rebels, and NSW Waratahs, appears to have reinvigorated the prop known as ‘The Tongan Thor’.

“I didn’t realise I needed that change to go to France,” Tupou admitted. “I actually didn’t know what it was going to be like and I was quite nervous going to France. Australia’s all I know and when I went… new people, the boys were nice, the coaches are nice, different culture. There was something about it that I enjoyed. I just enjoyed my footy over there really.”

The Wallabies’ dominant display in Townsville will provide further momentum heading into the remainder of their international schedule under coach Joe Schmidt.